Health and Medical Administrative Services at American InterContinental University-Atlanta

With $52,813 in median debt against $40,754 in first-year earnings, American InterContinental University-Atlanta's health administration program carries one of the highest debt loads in the country—ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally. That's roughly 70% more debt than the typical graduate in this field takes on. While earnings here actually exceed Georgia's state median by about $1,500 (placing it around the 60th percentile statewide), they still trail the national average by nearly $4,000. More concerning, graduates are leaving with debt levels that would take over three years of gross first-year salary to repay, well above the problematic 1:1 threshold.

The 83% Pell grant rate indicates this program primarily serves lower-income students, which makes the debt burden particularly troubling. Even though earnings performance is middling-to-decent within Georgia, students here are paying a steep price—literally—compared to alternatives. Reinhardt University graduates earn about $8,000 more annually with likely less debt, while Georgia Highlands College delivers similar earnings with presumably lower costs as a public institution.

For parents, this comes down to a difficult risk calculation: your child would be entering the workforce with debt approaching two years' worth of take-home pay in a field where earnings aren't exceptional. Unless there are compelling personal circumstances that make this specific program necessary, Georgia offers better-value pathways into healthcare administration.